For the busy healthcare provider -- and who isn't? -- consultant Rosemarie Nelson offers time-saving apps and tips to help you get the most out of your day.

How busy are you? It doesn't matter how busy the other guy tells you he is -- you know you are even busier! You can fit more in a day than the next person, and usually you've accomplished more before they even wake up in the morning! Here are 10 tech time-saving apps and tips that technology can bring to your personal and professional life.

1. Epocrates: It's likely that you know about this mobile drug reference resource. It's free and as many as 50 percent of U.S. physicians rely on Epocrates to help improve patient safety and increase practice efficiency. It's free! But wait -- there's more! For an annual subscription fee, you can have access to ICD-9 and CPT billing codes, lab tests and panels with reference ranges, and more.

DrawMD (free in Apple app store): physicians can sketch, stamp, or type on detailed anatomic images and then save to EHRs and/or share images with patients.

NumeraNET (free in Apple app store): patients can share info such as weight, blood pressure, pedometer results with physicians, who can send the info to an EHR.

4. Telecommuting apps: Telecommuting can be effective beyond your transcriptionist -- think of the coding and billing staff and even phone operations. Check out www.telcoa.org.

5. Preventing data loss: Just do the back up! Don't back up just your practice management system, but also your entire PC network so that all those documents and forms and accounts payable records are all safely stored and retrievable if a problem occurs. Investigate Internet-based services for backup such as www.livevault.com or www.offsitebackup.us.

6. Network with colleagues: The Doximity app provides a professional social network for physicians and healthcare professionals across the U.S. -- think the medical "LinkedIn." Digital fax, upload your CV, and earn honoraria. Free.

7. Password safety: Passwords are troublesome but are a necessity. Be sure that you force a password change for all users on your network at least once per quarter. Do not allow staff to post their passwords anywhere. Change all passwords for all staff and providers whenever an employee resigns or is terminated. Check out www.roboform.com. It provides a master password and inserts a toolbar into your browser to auto-log onto up to ten applications for free ($29.95 for more).

8. Survey on the Spot (free in Apple app store): Gather instant feedback on your practice with custom surveys; see compiled survey results in your account and get software alerts when a patient rates service as poor.

9. Check-in apps: Let your patients check in and make their copayment at a kiosk in your reception area. Some kiosks will even verify insurance eligibility!

10. Lifestyle apps: Get in shape and get even more productive with these two apps for your smartphone:

Crossfit Daily: Get your workout of the day with details for how-to including video. Each workout will provide the benchmark for you and comments from others attempting these serious exercises. Free.

LoseIt: Enter your daily calorie budget and throughout the day you can add the food you take in and the exercise you complete. Voila! Are you under (weight loss) or over (weight gain) your budget? Easy to use (scan bar codes on food containers); create "My Foods" lists, custom recipes, and brand name food lists. Free.

The approach to effective use of technology tools is incremental. If you wait until the next version comes out, or the next upgrade, or the complete interface, or ... you will miss many opportunities to reap incremental benefits.

"All or nothing" is a losing proposition. Take small steps down the path of technology and gain big returns for yourself and for your practice.